Lighting a 55g turtle tank

[TMartinez]

I scored a really good deal on a 55g tank today ($20). Since I had a red eared slider in a 10g and it had way overgrown it, I figure this would be perfect. What's a good lighting system for it? I'd like a clean looking hood assembly versus a couple clamp ons.

Also what woud be some good fish to keep in it as well?

 

[kittyhazelton]

They made "reptile hoods" that have the flourscent uvb, day/night bulbs all in one clean hood. Personally I think they're overpriced & you can't chose the position of where the bulbs are...
if you are handy, why not build a hood? Just keep in mind heat & placement of electricals.
Here's the pre-made hoods you can get:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind...-C881-DE11-B712-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA

 

[TMartinez]

This is my first turtle. Advantages to having directional lamps? I would like to make it a "native" turtle and fish tank

 

[adellababe]

The danger in keeping a turtle with one of those hood systems is that the uv it needs doesn't pass through the glass panes in the hood. So unless you have a wire lid that has hood lights sit on top (makes it hard to get in to feed) you will need to look into an alternative. The clamp lights are good because they make that one section they are directed at HOT so the turtle can bask happily.

You can also consider looking around your house for enough supplies to build an above tank basking platform. Have one hood light on half the 55 gallon, then have a ramp leading up to a basking platform on the other.

This will maximize your swimming area in your 55.